From Contract to Publication

Last year, the end of October, I signed a contract with 4RV Publishing, LLC, to publish my middle grade urban fantasy. As you might imagine, I was whooping and hollerin’ it up! At last!

Since that time, my book has undergone several edits, both full and partial, and I’ve had to wait patiently (okay, sometimes impatiently) for things to happen, i.e. making the suggested changes by the editing staff, waiting for the publisher to buy the ISBN numbers, and whatever organizational things they needed to do on their end. I am glad to say that the long wait is almost over. The book is almost to the layout folks, and I should have a finished copy in my hot little hands soon!

I would like to say that during the wait that I’ve written and edited another book, but alas, that is not the case. Have I just been playing around? No, far from it. The publication of the book necessitated I do certain things on my end to prepare for the marketing and promotional aspects of the book.

I had to research and create a media kit. I took a crash course in marketing (a must buy is Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s book, The Frugal Book Promoter), looking for all the information I could get. In addition to the media kit, I created both a blog and website, joined numerous social networking groups and joined groups related to the topic of my book. Much to my dismay, for each group that I joined, I had to figure out how to use their particular site builder, create a profile and so forth, and remain a contributing member to that site. More learning. I have also guest posted on other’s blogs, been interviewed on other’s blogs and been interviewed on the radio.

Fortunately, with my next book, a lot of this stuff won’t have to be repeated. I’ll already have the website, the blog, and so on, but I will still have to post regularly, and keep my website updated.

Lest you think I’m being lazy, I am involved in writing several more books. A little here, a little there, and they slowly get done. I have attended a couple of writing conferences, which were outstanding, and great for networking. I learned a lot.

Speaking of learning, for me, research for my books is an ongoing process. Just when I think I’ve researched my subject to death, I run across another book, another website, that has “just” the information I need to add depth and richness to my book. Fortunately, I really like the research aspect.

So if you think signing the contract is an “end all” proposition, you’ll soon find out that isn’t the case. There is more hard work ahead, but it is manageable, and eventually, you find yourself at the end game, for that book, and before you know it, you’ll be selling your books!

Katie Hines
Children's Author
http://katiehines.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Katie-Hines/1442953493
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/katiehines